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Living in
Imperial Beach.
About
Life in Imperial Beach
Living in Imperial Beach means embracing a tight-knit beach community that trades typical urban amenities for ocean access and a distinctly border-town character. The weather is genuinely excellent—consistently mild year-round with about 323 sunny days annually, and it stays noticeably cooler than inland San Diego in summer—though you'll want to factor in a 27-minute average commute if you're working elsewhere in the county. The Latino community is substantial here, with Spanish widely spoken and the culture reflecting the city's proximity to Tijuana, which shapes everything from local food to neighborhood character.
Imperial Beach at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.8%
Foreign-Born
16.6%
Broadband Internet
91.3%
of households
Population Growth
-3.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.6% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Imperial Beach: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Imperial Beach, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (77.3%), and 37.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.9%
of residents
65 and Older
12.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
25.2%
of households
Married Couples
38.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.68
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for CA
Rent, home values, and income in Imperial Beach
In Imperial Beach, home values are 17% above the CA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
57.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
111.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,745
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
31.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $830,276 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for CA
Unemployment in Imperial Beach and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Imperial Beach is close to the CA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Imperial Beach Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metro area
Commute27.1 min avg
How Imperial Beach residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Imperial Beach, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 11 mi
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Major hub12.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 13% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Imperial Beach runs 13% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
287
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
408.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Imperial Beach Police Department
Natural DisastersHigh Wind most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
San Diego County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In San Diego County, which includes Imperial Beach, the most common type is high wind, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Heavy Rain | $110,000 |
| 2024 | 56 | High Wind | $30.9M |
| 2023 | 67 | High Wind | $13,000 |
| 2022 | 92 | High Wind | $11,000 |
| 2021 | 93 | High Wind | $4.2M |
| 2020 | 56 | High Wind | $4.5M |
| 2019 | 69 | High Wind | $1.0M |
| 2018 | 42 | High Wind | $680,100 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
157 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
San Diego County, county-wide
Imperial Beach is less than 1% of San Diego County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality67 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in San Diego County, which includes Imperial Beach, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
67
Good Days
64
per year
Moderate Days
268
per year
Unhealthy Days
7
per year
San Diego County, county-wide
Imperial Beach is less than 1% of San Diego County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate73°F summers, 47°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Imperial Beach has mild summers (avg high 73°F) and warm winters (avg low 47°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/53°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
73°/63°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/56°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
66°/47°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
8.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
2
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
33
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67°F | 47°F | 1.69" |
| Feb | 65°F | 48°F | 2.10" |
| Mar | 66°F | 51°F | 1.85" |
| Apr | 67°F | 53°F | 0.59" |
| May | 68°F | 57°F | 0.10" |
| Jun | 70°F | 60°F | 0.08" |
| Jul | 73°F | 64°F | 0.33" |
| Aug | 75°F | 65°F | 0.03" |
| Sep | 75°F | 62°F | 0.14" |
| Oct | 73°F | 56°F | 0.42" |
| Nov | 70°F | 50°F | 0.80" |
| Dec | 66°F | 46°F | 0.45" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Imperial Beach
Uninsured
10.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Imperial Beach's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.5 mi away · Chula Vista
Paradise Valley Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.3 mi away · National City
Sharp Coronado Hospital and Hlthcr Ctr
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.1 mi away · Coronado
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education22.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Imperial Beach
Imperial Beach's student/teacher ratio is 22.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 26.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
8
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
26.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
22.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Imperial Beach (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 35,377 students · in-state tuition $9,180 · 83% graduate · median earnings $73,494 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 18,614 students · in-state tuition $1,356 · 31% graduate · median earnings $47,535 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 10,441 students · in-state tuition $1,154 · 21% graduate · median earnings $44,127 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,671 students · in-state tuition $62,420 · 82% graduate · median earnings $93,069 (10 yrs after entry)
Point Loma Nazarene University
12.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 3,188 students · in-state tuition $48,450 · 78% graduate · median earnings $68,713 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 2-year · 636 students · median earnings $46,721 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Cabrillo National Monument, 10 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Imperial Beach
Imperial Beach has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Cabrillo National Monument (10 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Cabrillo National Monument
National Monument
10 mi awayJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
90 mi awayPublic Libraries in Imperial Beach
Imperial Beach Library
810 Imperial Beach Blvd., Imperial Beach
Cities Near Imperial Beach
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Imperial Beach?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Imperial Beach FAQ
Is Imperial Beach, California affordable?⌄
Imperial Beach's median rent is $2,011/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $86,111/year. Median home value is $857,000.
Is Imperial Beach, California safe?⌄
Imperial Beach's violent crime rate was 287 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 409 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Imperial Beach, California?⌄
Imperial Beach has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Imperial Beach, California?⌄
The cost of living in Imperial Beach is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,011/month and median household income is $86,111/year. The median home value is $857,000. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Imperial Beach, California?⌄
The average commute in Imperial Beach is 27 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from